Credit: The Associated Press

In a this image made from video, the Nelson, Ga. City Council meets to vote on a mandatory gun ownership ordinance for all heads-of-household, Monday, April 1, 2013. From left are council member Jackie Jarrett, Mayor Mike Haviland, council member Duane Cronic, council member Edith Portillo, and city attorney Jeff Rusbridge.

NELSON, Ga. — Backers of a newly adopted ordinance requiring gun ownership in a small north Georgia town acknowledge they were largely seeking to make a point about gun rights.

The ordinance in the city of Nelson — population 1,300 — was approved Monday night and goes into effect in 10 days. However, it contains no penalties and exempts anyone who objects, convicted felons and those with certain mental and physical disabilities.